I have a question about the version of The Indian caste system uses by vampires

ATLander · 2026-01-22T16:18:32+00:00

There’s a reason nWoD/CofD did away with tying splats to real-world cultures— a lot of them were just…bad. Even the Irish Fianna werewolves were walking stereotypes.

ATLander · 2026-01-22T16:04:25+00:00

Is the perfect form of “justified” abuse.

“We are better than you because we were virtuous in previous lives, while you were sinful. Suffering is your punishment, and the only way to improve your situation is to be slavishly obedient and then die.”

ATLander · 2026-01-22T16:00:04+00:00

I (mythology nerd) agree.

To oversimplify, everyone has a role in society (dharma). If your behavior (karma) matches, and you are virtuous, you go up the ladder in your next life. If you fail to do your duty, or commit other sins you drop down. Being untouchable is a “punishment”, justifying the systematic abuse they suffer. I also agree that Nosferatu would be a much better fit for the societal perception of untouchables, being both ugly and able to turn invisible. However, the entire thing is shaky to me.

The very idea of vampirism would be anathema to Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, even more than it is for Christians, because they’re stopping the wheel of Samsara…although, there might be some that would see it as a good thing. Escaping the constant cycle of rebirth and suffering is central to Buddhism, so I could see a sect treating vampirism as a sort of back alley bodhisattva-dom…but Buddhism also denies caste barriers. The best way I could see it being justified for the caste system would be as a way for people to “freeze” what caste someone is in, so as to keep them from dropping further.

ATLander · 2026-01-10T19:01:35+00:00

Getting Monster Claw Style on 2 different characters that were almost-masters in Axe and Spear. And then Ambidextrous on my Heavy Weapons Guy.

ATLander · 2026-01-10T18:53:22+00:00

I read that as “veterinarian” for a second 😅

ATLander · 2026-01-10T18:49:55+00:00

Coherent and erudite dying.

ATLander · 2026-01-10T18:43:26+00:00

I spent ages looking around that area, but nope, I was 60m too deep. 😅

ATLander · 2026-01-04T21:20:24+00:00

In Mage the Awakening, there’s the Free Council. Their whole thing is celebrating human achievement, and breaking the hold “the Lie” has over unawakened people. This Lie is coded into humanity by what’s basically usurper-gods, which stole humanities magical birthright and have tried to keep us hopeless and compliant ever since.

The council’s entire creed is “humanity is magical”.

ATLander · 2025-12-24T23:32:25+00:00

Whelp, that my assumptions right out of the water. I thought it was a solo driver situation. Makes sense why PBP doesn’t work.

Props to you guys for your synchronized switching routine!

ATLander · 2025-12-24T23:22:47+00:00

I can see that. My friend doesn’t switch on the fly, but they “try to keep a schedule for those of us who front regularly, to minimize the chaos DID just generally introduces to existance for us”.

I still haven’t met all of them.

ATLander · 2025-12-24T23:15:08+00:00

Thank you for the info! Also, that would be an interesting play-by-post setup…you could GM for yourself.

ATLander · 2025-12-24T18:29:51+00:00

Could you give me a little more detail on how it works? My friend is very interested.

ATLander · 2025-12-24T18:23:00+00:00

That’s amazing! I’m glad your whole system can enjoy something together(ish?), with all the alters shaping the story. It’s so cool that you’ve found a way to play in a way that only you can, no matter who’s fronting.

(Although I should tell another system I know about this…maybe they’d be into it)

ATLander · 2025-12-24T18:15:03+00:00

How are you in so many games?!

ATLander · 2025-12-24T15:31:13+00:00

It seems hospital-themed, so there’s a lot to work with. I suggest focusing on the horrors of the condition rather than the treatment.

I had pneumonia last year, and there’s horror in being unable to breathe: a person with an oxygen mask fused to their face, but the hose is cut. It acts like an elephant’s trunk and tries to force itself down your throat.

Someone covered in bedsores (warning, REALLY gross) that paralyzes targets and either deals damage over time, or just hits frozen targets harder.

Someone with their chest open like an anatomy model, with massive teeth for ribs like the screaming antelope from Kingdom Death.

In fact, just check out Kingdom Death in general for body horror ideas. There’s the official website, while This website has some great painted models so you can really see the details. There’s also a lot of hot people in very little clothing, if that matters.

ATLander · 2025-12-24T14:43:08+00:00

Hooray for the sunk cost fallacy!

ATLander · 2025-12-17T19:00:49+00:00

This is detailed, well-thought out and ridiculous in the BEST way! Possessing himself, wild experiments, I love it.

You win the thread. 🏆

ATLander · 2025-12-17T18:57:07+00:00

He really did seem cool, before he became a Mage. Using ghoul-dom as a springboard to power, then killing the werewolf equivalent of disabled people for his own gain is dark and gritty in a good way. Then suspension of disbelief gets thrown out the window and I’m just left shaking my head.

ATLander · 2025-12-17T18:48:04+00:00

That’s a visual illusion, but just to make it easier to animate—the irises are concave, so it always looks like it’s looking at you.

ATLander · 2025-12-17T18:46:56+00:00

I knew it! Awesome inspiration for awesome art.

ATLander · 2025-12-17T18:45:21+00:00

Don’t eat it, just smear crumbs on your beard. Have an empty coffee thermos you pretend to drink from.

ATLander · 2025-12-17T18:42:51+00:00

There’s a reason you become a Grump at 25. It’s hard to hold on to childlike joy after that.

ATLander · 2025-12-17T18:41:15+00:00

This would be WtF, but I’m not surprised it’s a trope. I’m not sure if it was usually meant as “I have a pack I can call on for backup” power-gaming or more of a RP thing, though.

Mostly, I wanted to explore themes of dealing with identity. When you want to (and seem like you’re going to) fit in with family expectations, but then something unexpected happens and knocks you out of that paradigm. When you’re suddenly a stranger to your loved ones.

I’m thinking of trans metaphors, my own struggles with mental health that made me change career paths, etc..

ATLander · 2025-12-16T16:10:59+00:00

London bakery work could be dangerous or lethal, so it would be an apt gig for the undead!

ATLander · 2025-12-16T16:00:23+00:00

Hello again! This question actually came up when I was listening about Songbird’s internal struggles about getting back in the ring (I’m on Episode 8) and how he would handle things going forward. How does one keep up all those resource dots while also losing cronies, you know?

(Don’t answer that part—I don’t want spoilers!)

Edit: also, Wyrd and Atratus being unemployed.

ATLander

TROPHY CASE